How do you score a point in paddle tennis?

Scoring a point in paddle tennis follows the same basic rally-based system used in lawn tennis: a player or team scores when they win the rally by their opponent committing an error or failing to return the ball inside the rules. The official rules authored by the International Padel Federation explain that every exchange begins with a serve and continues until the ball bounces twice, goes out of bounds, or a rule infringement occurs. Understanding those scenarios clarifies how points are won in practice.

Winning a rally

A point is awarded when the receiving side cannot legally return the ball before it bounces twice, when the ball is hit so it lands outside the court limits, when it strikes a player or their clothing, or when a player commits a rule violation such as touching the net. In padel the ball is allowed to rebound off the enclosed walls after it has first bounced on the ground, so a shot that uses the walls remains in play provided the return is made before a second bounce. When the serving team or the receiving team forces one of these outcomes, they gain the point and the score progresses according to conventional game scoring.

Service and faults

Service rules directly affect point scoring because serve faults lead immediately to lost points in certain circumstances. The serve must be executed underhand below waist level and the ball must bounce in the diagonally opposite service box. A serve that does not land in the correct service box is a fault. Two consecutive serving faults result in the server’s side losing the point. The ball may hit the net on a serve and still be valid if it lands correctly, but any other net contact that prevents a legal return can end the rally in favor of the opponent.

Game scoring and deuce

Points within a game count in the familiar sequence love, 15, 30, 40, and game. If both sides reach 40, the match enters deuce and a side must win two consecutive points to claim the game, first gaining advantage and then game. Matches are usually played best of three sets, and sets are decided by games; most competitive circuits such as the World Padel Tour follow tie-break procedures if games reach parity at the end of a set.

Relevance, causes, and consequences

Correctly applying these scoring principles is essential for fair play and competitive integrity. Errors in judging bounces off the wall or the legality of a serve can change momentum and outcomes, especially at deuce where a single point can swing advantage. Culturally, padel’s enclosed court and doubles format make scoring disputes often social as well as technical, requiring clear communication and respect among players and referees. Environmentally, the sport’s reliance on synthetic turf and glass walls influences how the ball behaves and thus how points are contested; wet or worn surfaces can increase double bounces and disputed points. For players and officials, mastering the rulebook maintained by the International Padel Federation and the competition regulations used by organizations such as the World Padel Tour ensures consistent application of how points are scored.